Piano-action



(No Model.)

W; L. HAWES.

PIANO AGTIDN.

No. 480,014. Patented Aug. 2, 1892,

FT El- WITNESSES.

nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn cv UNITED STATES PATENTGEEICE.

IVILLARD L. HAIVES, OF \VAKEFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

PIANO-ACTION.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 480,014, dated August2, 1892.

Application filed April 18, 1892- To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLARD L. l-IAwEs, a citizen of the United States,residing at Wakefield, in the countyof Middlesex, State ofMassachusetts,have invented a newand useful Improvement inPiano-Actions, of which the following is a full, clear and exactdescription, reference being had -to the accompanying drawings, forminga part of this specification, in explaining its nature.

The invention relates to the class of pianoactions known as the grand Insuch actions the keys, hammers, and intermediate parts are mounted upona frame which is provided, for well-known reasons, with a slightlongitudinal movement when desired to vary the relation which thehammers bear to the strings. It is also necessaryin the setting up ofthe actions as now constructed to adjust the position of the hammerstoward and from the agraffe, under which the wires are strung, for thepurpose of bringing them into that position in regard to the agraffe asshall give desirable or suitable tone effects and also preserve thewearing properties of the hammers. It is also desirable at times toadjust or move the said hammers after they have once been so adjusted orfixed in relation to the agraffe toward it for the purpose of obtainingthe increased brilliancy of tone which often comes from such location ofthe hammers in relation to the agraffe, and such, for instance, as mightbe desirable in the temporary use of an instrument in a large hall forconcert purposes. The bringing of the hammers into this relation withthe agraffe, however, is not a desirable one for them to occupycontinuously, because of the increased wear to which the hammers aresubjected on account of the fact that they are very liable to strike theagraffe in part as well as the wires. Heretofore, so far asI am aware,there has been no construction where by the hammers and their supportare provided with the last-named adjustment.

In the setting up of the piano-frame it has been customary to obtain thedesired relation of the hammers to the strings and agraffe by alaborious process of fitting the key-frame to the key-blocks, as in anyact of joining, and after such position has been found the parts arepermanently fastened or united to the Serial No. 429,548. (No model.)

frame-work of the piano. It will thus be seen that there is no provisionfor the easy adj ustment of the hammers and key-frame in relation to theagraffe during the setting up of the action, and also no provision for achange in the relation of these parts-namely, thehammers, strings, andagraffe--after the action has been put together and mounted in thepiano-case. It will be understood, however, that there has been foryears the sliding movement of the key-frame, hammers, the, lengthwisethe piano-frame or toward and from parts called the keybloeks, which arethe abutments at each end of the keyframe, and the connection betweenthe keyframe and key-blocks at each end has been maintained by means ofan extension from each end of the key -frame, known as a bolt orkey-frame guide, which enters a recess or socket formed in eachkey-block, respectively. My inven tion has to do with these bolts orkey-frame guides, and particularly with means for varying the positionof the key-frame in relation to them. In other words, instead of joiningthe end of the key-frame to the key-block by a bolt or constructionwhich provides only for the lengthwise movement of the key-frame inrelation to the keyblock, I have by makin the bolt or key-frame guidelaterally movable in relation to the keyframe and key-block establishedmeans by which the key-frame and hammers maybe moved inward or outwardin relation to the front edge or key-slip of the piano front. There area number of ways whereby this adjustment may be obtained, and I haveshown what I consider to be the most desirable in the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a view in vertical cross-sectionillustrating a sufficient portion of a piano action and frame to show myinvention. Fig. 2 is a view, part in plan and part in vertical section,of the portion to which the invention immediately relates. Figs. 3, 4-,and 5 show modified forms of devices for applying the invention, towhich reference is hereinafter made.

In the drawings, A represents the key-frame or composite support uponwhich the keys and hammer-actions and hammers are mounted.

13 represents one of the key-blocks, there being one at each end of thekey-frame.

The key-frame, with actions and hammers, is made longitudinally movablein relation to the key-blocks, such movement being imparted to the frameat the desired time by a pedal connected with it. It is necessary thatthe key-frame and its belongings should be guided during this movement.Consequently the key-frame is provided with two bolts or key-frameguides, one of which is shown marked 0, which enter sockets, recesses,or guideways in the key-blocks, one of which is shown and is marked B,being free, however, to slide a limited distance in such holders.

D is the agraffe.

d represents the wires E, the hammers. It is desirable that the hammersstrike the wires, as a rule, slightly beyond the inner edge of theagraffe; but this point, on account of the way in which the action ismounted in the frame, cannot be easily and accurately fixed withoutrequiring a considerable manipulating and changing of the parts, unlessthere be some means of adjustment whereby this point may be changedeasily after the parts have been assembled and united together, and as Ihave above intimated it is even then desirable to quickly change thispoint, and what I have said in regard to the necessity for this adjustment relates especially to the upper range of notes rather than tothe lower range, so that for the purposes of my invention only the boltor connection upon that end of the key-frame needs to have the means forinward and outward adjustment referred to.

In Fig. 2 I have represented the bolt O contained in a recess in the endof the key-frame, which expands or widens from its inner end outward,the bolt-frame being pivoted to the frame by the pivot c. The bolt alsohas a threaded nut 0' near its outer end, through which an adjListing-screw 0 extends. This adjusting-screw is confined in a hole inthe key-frame, and is prevented from having endwise movement by itsflanged head a and metal plate 0 The head of the adjustingscrew has aslot 0 and faces toward the key slip or front of the piano-frame. Theouter end 0 of the bolt extends beyond the edge of the key-frame intothe holder or recess 0 in the key-block, and while it has endwisemovement therein it does not have lateral movement. It will thus be seenthat by turning the screw 0 the key-frame, actions, and hammers are mademovable in relation to the keyblock and front of the piano, and that thehammers are consequently moved toward or from the agraffe, according asthe screw may be turned, while at the same time the keyframe and itsbolts are movable lengthwise at will in relation to the key-block.

In Fig. 4 I have represented the bolt as contained in a long recess inthe key-frame of uniform width, but wider than the bolt, and the boltinstead of being pivoted has two adjnstingscrews carried by the framerunning through it, and by turning these screws the frame is adjustedinward or outward in relation to the bolt, the bolt having its outer endof course held by the key-block.

In Fig. 3 I have shown the position of the pivot and adjusting-screw ofthe bolt transposed to those they occupy in Fig. 2. This calls for aslightly-diiferent form of bolt-recess in the key-frame, and I preferwhen this form of bolt and pivoting is used to back up the pivot bymaking the sections of the bolt about it curved and causing the wood ofthe frame to bear against said curved sections.

In Fig. 5 I have represented the bolt as having a sliding connectionwith the keyframe by a somewhat different means from that represented inthe figures above referred to, the bolt being represented as projectingfrom a slide-frame, which is transversely adj ustable upon the end ofthe key-frame by means of slots 6, through which fasteningscrews 6extend. By loosening the screws the slide may be moved inward or outwardin relation to the front edge of the frame and then be rigidly fastenedby the tightening of the screws.

If desired, there may be formed in the keyslip the hole f, (see Fig. 1,)by which the head of the adjusting-screw may be reached by ascrew-driver, or the adj usting-screw may be extended through the holein the key-slip to bring its end in a constantly exposed and operativeposition.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim and desire to secureby Letters Patent of the United States- 1. A piano-action mounted upon aframe adjustable inward and outward in relation to the bed or key-framebottom and the keyblocks, whereby the position of the hammers inrelation to the agraffe is varied at will, as and for the purposesdescribed.

2. In an action for grand and similar pianos, the longitudinally-movablekey-frame carrying the action and hammers,and means for adjusting saidframe or one end of it inward or outward in relation to the piano-frontand upon the bed, as and for the purposes described.

3. In a grand piano, the combination of the longitudinally andtransversely movable keyframe, the hammers and hammer-actions supportedthereby, and the agraffe, as and for the purposes described.

4. The combination, in a piano, of a keyframe, the hammers andhammer-actions supported thereby, the agratfe, the key-blocks, andguiding connection between one or both ends of the key-frame andkey-block, and means for moving the key-frame and bolt or guidetransversely in relation to each other, as and for the purposesdescribed.

5. The combination of the key-frame, the hammers and hammer-actionsmounted thereon, the agraffe, the key block or blocks, the bolt orkey-frame guide connecting the key frame at each end with the blocksarranged at one end at least to be adjustable transversely to the frame,with an adj ust-ing-screw carried IIO by said frame and engaging saidbolt, as and for the purposes described.

6. The combination of the key-frame, the

7. The combination of the key-frame, the

key-block, the adjustable connecting-bolt, and 10 the key-slip having ahole by which access to the adj listing-screw is had, as and for thepurposes described.

flLLARD L. HAXVES.

In presence of WILLIAM N. VOGLER, FRANK W. HAYDEN.

